At 14, a Jewish Girl Became a Hero, Shielding Children in Bondi Terror Attack

SYDNEY — A 14-year-old Jewish girl who was shot while protecting two younger children during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach is being hailed as a hero after speaking in an exclusive interview with 7 News Australia.

Chaya Dadon was attending the annual Jewish community event when gunfire erupted, sending families scrambling for cover. She said she was hiding under a bench when she heard a Jewish mother screaming for help to save her children.

Dadon left her shelter and ran toward the children, pulling them to the ground and covering them with her body as shots continued, she told 7 News Australia.

“I just held them and tried to calm them,” she said.

She was struck by a bullet in the leg moments later but said she avoided showing distress so the children would not panic. While lying on the ground, she led the children in reciting the Shema, a central Jewish prayer.

The shooting took place during a Hanukkah gathering that had drawn members of Sydney’s Jewish community for a day of celebration. Authorities have said two gunmen, a father and son, opened fire on the crowd, killing 15 people in what officials have described as an antisemitic terror attack.

With ambulances overwhelmed, a surf lifesaver transported Dadon on a rescue board to a police vehicle, which took her to the hospital. She later underwent surgery and is recovering with the help of crutches.

Her mother, Shterny Dadon, told 7 News Australia that her daughter’s actions reflected the strength of the Jewish community in the face of violence.

“We can’t let hate overcome light,” she said.

Dadon is expected to be released from the hospital later this week as investigations into the attack continue.